"I am a passenger
And I ride, and I ride
I ride through the city's backsides
I see the stars come out of the sky
Yeah, they're bright in a hollow sky
You know it looks so good tonight
I am the passenger
I stay under glass
I look through my window so bright
I see the stars come out tonight
I see the bright and hollow sky
Over the city's ripped back sky
And everything looks good tonight"
"The Passenger" by Iggy Pop
Asuka Langely Shikinami moved made her way through the ruins. With an M4A1 slung over her shoulder. Despite her vigilant eyes and weapon by her side, she wasn't in fact actually on patrol. She was on a walk. Despite the remains of society that could never return, her walks beyond the village gave a great calmness to the German. Away from the numerous villagers and their prying eyes, Asuka was able to recollect her thoughts on these walks. Above her the blue skies and sparse clouds gave her a much need reprieve from village life.
It's not that she didn't like the village, she treasured it and its people. But nothing sat right with her. It always felt off. Perhaps it was because this wasn't her first choice to spend the rest of her life at. She had tried to join him. She really did. Not after all that. She just couldn't leave Shinji Ikari knowing that he loved her. But for cruel reasons beyond her control, she couldn't join him, wherever he was. She didn't even get to thank him.
In the end, Shinji Ikari had saved the day. He had gotten into the robot and canceled the apocalypse. The world was returning to normal. No more red seas or eternal summers. All was made right with the world, because of him. People had begun to return. Not everyone, but it was better than nothing. That was the last day she had seen him. That idiot had stupidly sacrificed his life to save the world, including hers. She never found his body. There was no trace. She didn't know what had become of the Third Child.
Perhaps Shinji Ikari really had died that day. Maybe he really was gone, his life a sacrifice to redeem the world. Asuka both admired and hated him for that. Mentally speaking he was only fourteen, a child. And he had given his life to save the world. That day still replays in her head, her admission of past feelings to him, her wish for him to grow up, and his final confession to her. Sometimes she wonders what would've happened if she never said those things to him. Or given herself over to him. Would it have changed anything? Would he still be here? Did he truly love her? It was selfish she knew, but her thoughts still wandered there. Asuka felt some guilt over that day. Maybe if she had won against Unit-13 Shinji would have not made the sacrifice play. Or if she had held on to him at the beach. She knew no one blamed her for his disappearance, but the guilt came nonetheless. She had expressed these thoughts once upon a time to Touji, Hikari, and Kensuke, but even with their words of comfort and hugs did little to deter those thoughts. Not wishing to burden them with her issues, Asuka slowly concealed her feelings regarding Shinji. Instead, she chose to go on walks beyond the village grounds for time alone.
I should get back to the village soon. Rather not having them worrying about me.
In truth, they had every reason to worry. Numerous people coming back from Near Third Impact due to Shinji's actions. However, that did not guarantee that only good people return to the world. While run-ins were uncommon the village still had a couple of encounters with hostile factions in the past. For this reason, Asuka was never able to fully lose herself to her own thoughts as even this close to the village for fear of an ambush. Gone were the days of worrying about an angel or EVA units, instead, humanity had returned to its age-old enemy: itself. It was ironic that even after the end, humanity still fought amongst themselves, but such was the nature of humans. It was at this moment Asuka felt the hairs on her neck raise in response. In response to what, she did not know. Slowing turning around she saw movement in a nearby building. Moving in to investigate, Asuka unslung her rifle and turned off the safety. Approaching slowly into the building proved to be a challenge due to the debris on the floor. Slowly but surely Asuka cleared the first floor of the building. Seeing no trace of anyone, Asuka began to move upstairs in order to ensure that the building was truly empty. Making her way upstairs Asuka peered into the first room. There was a man in there. Pulling back for a second to regain her bearings, she looked into the room again. Luckily their back was facing the door, but from what Asuka could tell whoever they were, they had sight over the entire village. Taking note of the person's equipment Asuka was able to get a better idea of the situation.
Whoever this guy is, he went really old school.
There was nothing wrong with the man's kit, but it was at least over forty years old. An old PASGT armor piece and an M16A2 slung over the shoulder, the unknown looked like something out of a history book. That being said, the M16A2 had a maximum range of 3,600 meters and the village was well within that range. If they so wished, the rifleman could cause some serious damage. Deciding that her best course of action was to eliminate this possible threat to the village, Asuka slowly moved into the room. Shouldering her rifle, Asuka moved closer and closer to the man. Finally, within arm's reach, Asuka pressed the barrel into the back of the man's helmet.
"No sudden movements," Asuka commanded.
The man put down a pair of binoculars in front of him. He began to slowly turn despite her earlier command. Gripping her rifle tighter, Asuka considered blowing the man's brain out at that moment, but for whatever reason, the voice in her head told her no. The man kept turning to face her. He kept turning. And turning. And turning. And then he faced her.
No.
It couldn't be.
This isn't real.
The idiot's dead.
He died.
I let him die.
Staring back at her was Shinji Ikari. His mouth opened and she heard the first words from him in over three years.
"Oh fuck no."
